Stabilized side plate construction for grate conveyor

ABSTRACT

A stabilized side plate construction for a grate conveyor or the like in which one side plate of each pair of pivotally connected side plates has loosely keyed thereto a flanged spool which is journalled for pivotal movement on the reduced diameter extension of a chain pin or, alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension of the thru rod of the conveyor, with the flange of the spool abutting a radial shoulder of the larger diameter portion of the chain pin or of the thru rod, as the case may be, for proper orientation of the spool at a fixed reference location on the chain pin or on the thru rod. The other side plate of the pair of pivotally connected side plates is pivotally movable relative to the spool shoulder although the spool shoulder does not necessarily serve as a bearing for the other side plate. A washer which, in effect, is the opposite flange of the spool, is retained on the chain pin reduced diameter extension, or alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension of the thru rod, at a fixed lateral spacing from the spool flange, whereby to restrict the two pivotally connected side plates to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, thus minimizing the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;wobble&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; between pivotally connected side plates.

United States Patent [191 Hartwig Jan. 1,1974

[ STABILIZED SIDE PLATE CONSTRUCTION FOR GRATE CONVEYOR [75] Inventor: Walter J. Hartwig, Oconomowoc,

Wis.

[73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation,

Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 290,634

Primary Exqminer-Edward A. Sroka Attorney-Robert C. Sullivanet al. I

5 7] ABSTRACT A stabilized side plate construction for a grate conveyor or the like in which one side plate of each pair of pivotally connected side plates has loosely keyed thereto a flanged spool which is journalled for pivotal movement on the reduced diameter extension of a chain pin or, alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension of the thru rod of the conveyor, with the flange of the spool abutting a radial shoulder of the larger diameter portion of the chain pin or of the thru rod, as the case may be, for proper orientation of the spool at a fixed reference location on the chain pin or on the thru rod. The other side plate of the pair of pivotally connected side plates is pivotally movable relative to the spool shoulder although the spool shoulder does not necessarily serve as a bearing for the other side plate. A washer which, in effect, is the opposite flange of the spool, is retained on the chain pin reduced diameter extension, or alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension-of the thru rod, at a fixed lateral spacing from the spooiflange, whereby to restrict the two pivotally connected side plates to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, thus minimizing the wobble" between pivotally connected side plates.

19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures STABILIZED SIDE PLATE CONSTRUCTION FOR GRATE CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to traveling grates of the type used to convey material through a dryer, a furnace, a cooler, or the like and more particularly to a stabilized side plate construction for a traveling grate and the combination with a traveling grate of such stabilized side plates.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is conventional in the prior art to provide vertically extending side plates which travel with a traveling grate or grate conveyor to retain the material being conveyed, such as pelletized ore or the like, on the traveling grate. A plurality of such side plates are pivotally connected in overlapped relation to each other along each of the lateral sides of the conveyor along the entire length of the conveyor. Such overlapped side plates are conventionally supported on the laterally outer ends of the respective thru rods or tie rods of the grate conveyor laterally outwardly of the grate conveyor chains.

In the construction of the prior art, the overlapped side plates have been subject to excessive wobble in the vertically upper portions thereof, causing the lower portions of the overlapped side plates to scrape against each other, causing excessive wear on the lower facing surfaces of the overlapped side plates. Furthermore, the excessive wobble of the overlapped side plates of the prior art, with resulting spreading apart of the facing surfaces of the plates in the upper portions of the overlapped side plates, causes excessive gas flow between the overlapped plates which results in oxidation of the metal side plates.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a side plate assembly for a grate conveyor or the like in which excessive wobble of contiguous overlapped side plates of the grate conveyor is eliminated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a grate conveyor or the like a side plate construction and an assembly of side plates which permit a desirable, limited looseness of overlapped side plates with respect to each other but which prevents an excessive undesirable wobble or movement of the contiguous over- X lapped side plates relative to each other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mounting assembly for the side plates of a graet conveyor or the like which retains contiguous pivotally interconnected side plates with a limited and predetermined lateral clearance therebetween (ie. in a direction laterally or transverse of the lengthwise dimension of the conveyor) regardless of any possible elongation of the thru rods or tie rods on which the plates are mounted, which elongation might be caused by temperature or tension changes.

It is a further object of the invention to stabilize the lateral clearance between contiguous pivotally interconnected side plates of a grate conveyor or the like whereby to reduce the wear on the lower facing surfaces of the side plates; and whereby to reduce undesirable gas fiow between the overlapped contiguous side plates, thereby reducing the metal oxidation of the plates caused by such gas flow and also providing improved process control.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of this invention a stabilized side plate construction for a grate conveyor or the like in which one side plate of each pair of pivotally connected side plates has loosely keyed thereto a flanged spool which is journallecl for pivotal movement on the reduced diameter extension of a chain pin or, alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension of the thru rod of the conveyor, with the spool substantially abutting a radial shoulder of the larger diameter portion of the chain pin or the thru rod, as the case may be, for proper orientation of the spool at a fixed reference location on the chain pin or on the thru rod. The other side plate of the pair of pivotally connected side plates is pivotally movable relative to the spool shoulder, although the spool shoulder does not necessarily serve as a bearing for the other side plate. A washer which, in effect, is the opposite flange of the spool, is retained on the chain pin reduced diameter extension, or, alternatively, on the reduced diameter extension of the thru rod, at a fixed lateral spacing from the spool flange, whereby to restrict the two pivotally connected side plates to a limited relative lateral movement therebetween, thus minimizing the wobble between the pivotally connected side plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in connection with the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation. of a plurality of pivotally connected side plates for a grate conveyor or the i like in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention as applied to a grate conveyor having one-piece chain links;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the normally outwardly lying surface of one of the side plates;

FIG. 5 is a view of the side plate of FIG. 4 showing the reverse surface thereof that is, the surface of the side plate which normally faces inwardly of the grate conveyor;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the spool" member used in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the spool member of FIG. 6,

and

FIG. 8 is an elevation view-showing the normally inwardly facing surfaces of two contiguous pivotally connected side plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT proper" I7 and also the cover member 20 of the same two-piece chain link 16 are mounted contiguous grate l2 and also contiguous the side plates 30 to be described. Side bar members 18 of chain link 16 are pivotally mounted on chain pin 22 having a larger diameter main body portion 22A, a reduced diameter stub end portion 228 which is received in the hollow cylin drical end of the contiguous pipe spacer 14 on which grate member 12 is supported, and an elongated reduced diameter stub end portion 22C at the opposite or laterally outer end thereof (the right-hand end in FIG. 2) which serves as a bearing for spool 56 to be described. The neck portion 26 of a chain link proper 17 of a contiguous two-piece chain link 16 is received between the side bar members 18 of the firstmentioned chain link proper 17, and is pivotally connected to chain pin 22. The two-piece chain link assembly shown in FIG. 2 per se forms no part of this invention but is described more fully in my co-pending US. patent application Ser. No. 176,850 filed Sept. l, 197 l.

Tie rod shown in FIG. 2 extends coaxially through pipe spacer 14, through chain pin 22 including the stub end portions 22B and 22C thereof, and projects laterally to the right beyond the right-hand end of the stub end portion 22C of chain pin 22. Mounted on the spool 56 which is coaxially positioned about tie rod 15 and stub end portion 22C of chain pin 22 are the pivotally connected side plates 30A and 308 the details of which will be described hereinafter.

The plurality of pivotally connected side plates 30 contiguous each laterally outer edge of the grate conveyor, collectively define a side wall along the entire length of each respective lateral edge of the conveyor which moves with the conveyor. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 1, each side wall comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected similar plate members each generally indicated at 30 and specifically including the three pivotally connected plate members designated at 30A, 30B and 30C in FIG. 1, which are similar to each other and which together form part of one of the side walls of the grate conveyor.

As best seen in the views of FIGS. 11,2,4 and 5, a single plate member 30 comprises a lower plate portion generally indicated at 32 and an upper plate portion generally indicated at 34. Lower plate portion 32 may be made of a material such as cast iron, for example, while upper plate portion 34 may be made of a material such as stainless steel which can withstand higher temperatures than the material of lower plate portion 32. The reason for providing a two-piece construction including the plate portions 32 and 34 as just described is that the upper portion 34 of the plate 30 is frequently exposed to substantially higher temperatures than the lower portion 32 of plate 30. That is, the upper portion of plate 30 including the portion thereof where the upper plate portion 34 is located may at times be exposed to temperatures of the order of magnitude of 2,000 Fahrenheit when the grate conveyor is being used, for example, to convey pelletized ore or the like through drying or preheating zones, whereas the lower portion of the plate member 30 where the lower plate portion number 32 is located may only be exposed to temperatures, for example, of the order of magnitude of l,200 Fahrenheit. The upper and lower plate portions 34 and 32 are connected to each other by a tongue-in-groove connection indicated at 36 which extends for a portion of the length of respective facing edges of the upper and lower members 34 and 32 respectively. The remaining portion of the length of the upper and lower members 34 and 32 are provided with cooperating flanges 38 and 40, respectively, which are secured together by bolts 42.

Referring now to FIG. 4 which shows the normally laterally outwardly facing surface of the side plate 30, it will be noted that the lower portion 32 of the side plate 30 includes an area generally indicated at A-] and substantially bounded by the lines (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) which is countersunk or recessed below the surface generally indicated at A-2 which is substantially bounded by the lines (f), (g), (h), (b), (a), (i), (j) and (k). The portion of the upper plate portion 34 indicated at A-3 and substantially bounded by the lines b, c, d and 0 lies in substantially the same plane as the surface portion A-l of the lower plate member 32. The portion A-4 of the upper plate portion 34 which is bounded substantially by the lines j, g, b, m n lies in substantially the same plane as the surface portion A-2 of the lower plate portion 32. Surfaces A-2 and A-4 are provided with strengthening ribs respectively indicated at 33 and 35.

As best seen in FIG. 4, plate 30 is provided at the lower edge thereof with a flange which projects laterally forwardly of the normally outwardly facing surface of plate 30 and a wear shoe 77 is dctachably secured by bolts 79 to flange 75. Wear shoe 77 is adapted to ride along the surface of a guide rail or the like (not shown) extending along the path of travel of the upper run of the conveyor. I

Referring now to FIG. 5 which is a view of the opposite surface of the plate 30 of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the surfaces A-1 and A-3' are substantially co-planer with each other and are respectively approximately but not exactly the reverse faces of the surfaces A-1 and A-3 of FIG. 4, and that the surfaces A-2 and A-4' are substantially co-planer with each other and are respectively approximately but not exactly the reverse faces of surfaces A-2 and A4 of FIG. 4. Surfaces A-2' and A-4' are countersunk relative to the surface portions A-1' and A-3 as seen in the laterally inwardly facing view of plate 30 in FIG. 5.

As best seen in the view of FIG. 4, the edge a which is part of the boundary between surface portions A-1 and A-2 is in the form of an arcuate shoulder as which extends for substantially 200 substantially between the points 44 and 46 as seen in FIG. 4. A passage 48 of substantially oval shape extends through plate 30 intermediate the length of the plate 30. Shoulder 63 is substantially concentric with the symmetrical central transverse axis 50 of passage 48 as seen in the view of FIG. 4. At the left-hand end of plate 30 with respect to the view shown in FIG. 4, there is provided an annular-like surface portion of the plate indicated at 52 which, while connected to the surface portion A2, lies for wardly thereof relative to the plane of FIG. 4 (or laterally to the right of surface portion A-2 as seen in FIG. 2). Approximately 180 of the periphery of the surface portion 52 projects in the direction of travel (or to the left in FIG. 4) like an ear-like appendage forwardly of the remaining portion of the plate 30. A passage 54 of substantially hexagonal contour and having a symmetrical central transverse axis 55 extends through the plate 30 centrally of the annular-like surface portion 52. A generally annular-shaped flange 53 extends laterally forwardly of the surface portion 52, or laterally to the right of surface portion 52 as viewed in FIG. 2, for structural strengthening purposes.

The surface A-2' is bounded along part of its periphery by an arcuate rib 70 (FIG. 5) which is adapted to bear on the arcuate rib 69 (FIG. 4.) when plates 30A and 30B are pivotally assembled. When plates 30A and 30B are assembled as seen in FIG. 2, shoulder 70 is concentric about the axis 50 of passage 48 (FIG. 4), slightly radially outwardly of arcuate rib 69.

As best seen in FIG. 2, 6 and 7, contiguous side plates 30A and 30B are pivotally secured and assembled to each other by the use of a spool member generally indicated at 56. Spool member 56 includes a hollow cy- Iindrical body or sleeve 57 which is journalled for pivotal movement on the reduced diameter extension or stub portion 22C of chain pin 22 in FIG. 2. Spool member 56 includes a radially extending flange 58, and laterally extending (relative to the conveyor) cylindrical shoulder portions 57Aand 578 respectively, lying to the right and to the left, respectively, of flange 58, relative to the view of FIG. 2. The laterally inner end of shoulder 57B of spool 56 abuts with a clearance fit against the radial shoulder 60 defined by the laterally outer end of the larger diameter main portion 22A of chain pin 22. The abutting relation of the shoulder 57B of spool 56 against the radial shoulder 60 of the larger diameter portion 22A qf the chain pin as shown in FIG. 2, serves to properly orient the spool 56 at a fixed reference location on the chain pin. The clearance fit be tween shoulder 57B of spool 56 and the radial shoulder 60 of the chain pin portion 22A may be of the order of magnitude of 0.004 inch to permit relative pivotal movement without binding (as when turning around a sprocket at the end of the conveyor) between spool 56 and the radial shoulder 60 of chain pin portion 22A.

Flange 58 extends through an arc of approximately 200 and is received in a generally similarly-shaped countersunk recess 59 in the laterally inwardly facing surface of plate member 3018 contiguous passage 48 as best seen in the views of FIGS. 2 and 5. The depth of recess 59 is sufficient that the entire thickness of flange 58 is received in recess 59. Thus, in effect, spool member 56 is keyed to the plate 308 by engagement of flange 5% with the correspondingly-shaped countersunk recess 59. Since flange 58 lies in recess 59 radially outwardly of aperture 48, flange 58 serves as an abutment which limits lateral movement of plates 30A and 3013 in a laterally inward direction (or to the left relative to the view of FIG. 2).

Thus, at the pivotal connection between each pair of contiguous side plates such as 30A, 308, one of the plates (300B in FIG. 2) has spool member 56 loosely keyed to it for motion therewith at the aperture 48 of the respective plate member, while the contiguous plate member such as that specifically indicated at 30A in NO. 2 is mounted on the spool 56 at the aperture at passage 5d of the respective plate member 30A in such manner that the plate member 30A is pivotally movable relative to the shoulder portion 57A of spool 56, the concentric ribs 70 and 69 of the respective plates 30A and 30B serving as cooperating bearing surfaces during relative pivotal movement of the plates 30A and 308. The aperture 54 is oversize relative to the outer diameter of shoulder portion 57A of spool 56 so that during relative pivotal movement of plates 30A and 308, there is no bearing contact between the surfaces of aperture 54 and spool shoulder portion 57A, but

rather the bearing contact is between the surfaces of shoulders 69 and 70.

A washer 64, preferably of 360 extent, and having an outer diameter sufficiently great to radially overlap the periphery of the aperture 54 and thus to serve as an abutment which limits the laterally outward movement of plate 30A in FIG. 2, is positioned on the outer diameter of reduced diameter stub portion 22C of chain pin 22 substantially in abutting relation to the laterally outer (or right-hand end in FIG. 2) shoulder portion 57A of spool 56, the washer 64 in effect serving as a second or opposite flange of the spool 56. A retainer member 66, such as a snap ring, for example, is received in a groove in the peripheral surface of the end of the reduced diameter stub portion 22C of chain pin 22 to retain the washer 64 at a predetermined fixed position relative to flange 58 of spool 56. The tie rod 115 projects a short distance laterally outwardly, or to the right with respect to the view in MG. 2, beyond the lateral end of reduced diameter stub portion 22C of chain pin 22, and a retainer such as a snap ring 68, for example, is received in a groove in the peripheral surface of the end portion of tie rod 15.

When the plates 30A and 30B are assembled in pivotally connected relation to each other as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface portions A-2' and [P4, of the inwardly facing surface of plate 30A respectively overlie surfaces A-1 and A-3 of the underlying plate 30B in nested or sandwiched relation thereto, and the arcuate shoulder of plate 30A is journalled on or bears against the radially outer surface of shoulder 69 of plate 303. When plates 30A and 30B are pivotally connected to each other, the shoulder 70 on the plate 30A and the shoulder 69 on the plate 308 both lie on arcs drawn from the coincident pivotal axes 55-50 about which the plate members 30A and 30B pivot with respect to each other, so that when pivotal movement of plates 30A and 3018 occurs as, for example, when the plate members are turning around the sprocket at the ends of the conveyor path, as seen in FllG. ll, the two plates 30A and 30B are in bearing contact with each other along the respective arcuatc shoulders 69 and 70. Also, during pivotal movement of plates 30A and 30B relative to each other, the arcuate shoulder b"-b"' of the overlying plate Elli/\(FIG. 5) moves in an arc parallel to and slightly radially outwardly of the arcuate edge d-d' of the underlying plate 303. The shoulder b"-b"' and the edge dd' of the respective plates 30A. and 30B lie on arcs which are both concentric of the coincident axes 55-50 of plates 30A and 308.

It will be noted that the spool member 56 in the embodiment of MG. 2 is adapted for use with the twopiece chain link construction described in my aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 176,850 tiled in the US. Patent Office on Sept. 1, 1971, and that as previously mentioned, the spool member 56 in cludes a shoulder portion 57B which is of the same outer diameter as pipe spacer 14 and which extends in a laterally inward direction from the flange 58 and is in underlying relation to most of the laterally outer overhanging portion 59A of the cover member 20 of the two-piece chain link assembly to. Bearing portions identified as 6d and 70 in my aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 176,850) and identified as 64A and 70A in FIG. 6 of the drawings of the present application, are carried by and depend downwardly from each of the respective overhanging portions 59A and 59B of cover member 20 of the two-piece chain link assembly. Bearing portions 64A and 70A are adapted to be pivotally mounted on the shoulder portion 57B of the spool 56 and bearing portions (not shown) similar to 64A and 70A carried by overhanging end 598 of chain cover 20 are also mounted on the end of the pipe spacer member 14 which underlies the overhanging end 5913 of chain cover 20, whereby to pivotally mount the cover member 20 of the two-piece chain link to the shoulder portion 57B and to the pipe spacer member 14, respectively. Shoulder portion 578 of spool 56 has the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of pipe spacer 14. To avoid undulycomplicating the drawing, the pivotal connection including parts 64A and 70A just described are not shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, FIG. 6 being depended upon for a showing of this feature.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the plate members 30B and 30A are restricted to limited lateral movement between the flange 58 of the spool 56, on the one hand, and the washer 64 which is mounted on the stub shaft extension 22C of the chain pin 22 and which washer 64 is held in a fixed position relative to flange 58 by the retainer 66, on the other hand. Even though the tie'rod might increase in length by as much as an inch due to tension or temperature changes, the lateral spacing between the flange 58 of the spool 56 and the washer 64 will remain substantially unchanged and thus the pivotally connected side plate members 30A and 30B are restricted to only a limited dimensionally predetermined lateral movement therebetween, thereby avoiding the excessive wobble which has been a problem in the prior art constructions as previously described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a slightly modified embodiment of the invention which will only be described briefly since it is substantially similar to the previously described embodiment. Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a grate conveyor generally indicated at 100 including a thru rod generally indicated at 102 which extends for the entire transverse width of the conveyor. Thru rod 102 includes a larger diameter portion 102A and a reduced diameter end portion 102B. Pipe spacer 104 is shown mounted coaxially about the thru rod portion 102A, and a grate 106 is mounted on the pipe spacer104. A pair of pivotally connected conventional one-piece chain castings 116 and 116' are pivotally connected to each other on the thru rod portion 102A next to the grate 106.

A spool member generally indicated at 156 is journalled for pivotal movement on the reduced diameter portion 102B of the thru rod 102. The spool member 156 includes an integral flange 158 similar to the flange 58 of the spool shown in FIG. 5 whereby to loosely key spool 156 to plate 1308'. Thus, the spool 156 and the plate 130B are capable of pivotal movement together as a unit relative to the reduced diameter end portion 1028 of thru rod 102. Flange 158 abuts with a clearance fit the radial shoulder 160 of thru rod 102 at the junction between enlarged portion 102A and reduced diameter portion 102B of the thru rod 102, for proper orientation of the spool 156 at a fixed reference location on the thru rod. The clearance fit between flange 158 and the radial shoulder 160 of thru rod 102 may be of the order of magnitude of 0.004 inch to permit relative pivotal movement .without binding between flange 158 and the radial shoulder 160.

Spool 156 also includes a cylindrical body portion 157. A washer 164 which seats on the peripheral surface of reduced diameter portion 102B of thru rod 102 is secured in place by a snap ring retainer 166 in abutting relation to the laterally outer end (right-hand end in FIG. 3) of cylindrical body portion 157 of spool 156. Washer 164 in effect, serves as the opposite flange of the spool 156. Washer 164 is preferably of 360 extent. Snap ring 166 is received in a groove in the peripheral surface of the reduced diameter extension 1028 of thru rod 102 to retain washer 164 at a fixed lateral spacing from flange 158 of spool 156. It can be seen that side plates A and 13013 which are respectively similar to plates 30A and 30B of the embodiment of FIG. 2, are maintained at a limited lateral clearance with respect to each other between flange 158 and washer 164 in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 2. Even if thru rod 102 were to elongate under the influence of temperature or tension, flange 158 and washer 164 would remain at a substantially fixed lateral spacing with respect to each other.

It can be seen that the embodiment shown in H6. 3 is essentially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 except that the spool 156 is not provided with a laterally inwardly extending shoulder similar to the shoulder 57B of the embodiment of FIG. 2, since the chain links in the embodiment of FIG. 3 are conventional onepiece chain castings, rather than the two-piece chain links of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it has been shown how the objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner. However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. I

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a grate conveyor, a chain extending lengthwise of said conveyor contiguous a lateral edge of the conveyor, said chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected link members, a support member corresponding to each pair of pivotally connected link members, said support member being moveable with said conveyor and supporting its corresponding pair of pivotally connected link members at the pivotal connection of the respective pair of link members, said support member including a larger diameter portion on which said link members are pivotally supported and a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support member including a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter portion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like member including a first flange, the laterally inner end of said spool-like member being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, said spool-like member including a hollow cylindrical body portion coaxially mounted on said reduced diameter portion of said support member, a pair of contiguous conveyor side plate members mounted on said spool-like member for pivotal movement relative to each other, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates, the lateral spacing between said first flange and said washer being such as to restrict said pair of pivoted side plate members to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, whereby to minimize wobble between said pivotally connected side plate members.

2. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said first flange is located laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor of the laterally inner end of said spoollike member, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member.

3. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said first flange is located substantially at the laterally inner end of said spool-like member.

4. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said support member is a chain pin.

5. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said support member is a thru rod.

6. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spoollike member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said recess.

7. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 6 in which said first flange has an arcuate extent of less than 360, said recess being shaped to substantially conform to the shape of said first flange whereby said first flange is received in keyed relation to said recess.

8. A stabilized side plate construction for a grate conveyor comprising a pair of pivotally connected side plates, a support member corresponding to said pair of pivotally connected side plates, said support member including a larger diameter portion adapted to pivotally support a pair of contiguous chain links, said support member including a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to said conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support member including a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter por-' tion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like member including a first flange, the laterally inner end of said spool-like member being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member, whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, said spoollike member including a hollow cylindrical body portion coaxially mounted on said reduced diameter portion of said support member, said pair of side plates being mounted on said spool-like member for pivotal movement relative to each other, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates, the lateral spacing between said first flange and said washer being such as to restrict said pair of pivoted side plates to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, whereby to minimize wobble between said pivotally connected side plates.

9. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said first flange is located laterally outwardly relative to said conveyor of the laterally inner end of said spool-like member, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member.

10. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said first flange is located substantially at the laterally inner end of said spool-like member.

11. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said support member is a chain pin.

12. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said support member is a thru rod.

13. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spool-like member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said recess.

14. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 13 in which said first flange has an arcuate extent less than 360, said recess being shaped to substantially conform to the shape of said first flange whereby said first flange is received in keyed relation to said recess.

15. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 9 in which said cylindrical shoulder of said spoollike member is adapted to pivotally support a cover member for a chain link of the type in which the cover member is separate from the chain link proper and in which said cover member laterally overhangs the chain link proper tooverlie said cylindrical shoulder, and in which said cover member includes means carried by the overhanging portion of said cover member pivotally connecting said cover member to said cylindrical shoulder.

16. In a grate conveyor, a chain extending lengthwise of said conveyor contiguous a lateral edge of the conveyor, said chain being of a type formed of two-piece chain links each including a chain linkproper and a separate cover member in covering and laterally overhanging relation to said chain link proper, each pair of contiguous chain links proper being pivotally connected together, a support member corresponding to each pair of pivotally connected chain links proper, said support member being movable with said conveyor and supporting a given pair of pivotally connected chain links proper at the pivotal connection of the respective chain links proper, said support member including a larger diameter portion on which said chin links proper are pivotally supported and a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support memberincluding a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter portion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like memher including a first flange, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange, whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, a pair of contiguous side plate members mounted on said spool-like member between said first flange and said washer for pivotal movement of said plate member relative to each other, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates in opposite lateral directions, the lateral spacing pivotally connected side plates, and mounting means carried by a portion of a chain link cover member which is in laterally overhanging relation to a corresponding chain link proper, said mounting means being mounted on said cylindrical shoulder of said spool-like member, whereby to pivotally mount said chain link 7 cover member on said cylindrical shoulder of said spool-like member.

17. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which said support member is a chain pin.

18. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which said support member is a thru rod.

19. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spoollike member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said re- CSS. 

1. In a grate conveyor, a chain extending lengthwise of said conveyor contiguous a lateral edge of the conveyor, said chain comprising a plurality of pivotally connected link members, a support member corresponding to each pair of pivotally connected link members, said support member being moveable with said conveyor and supporting its corresponding pair of pivotally connected link members at the pivotal connection of the respective pair of link members, said support member including a larger diameter portion on which said link members are pivotally supported and a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support member including a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter portion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like member including a first flange, the laterally inner end of said spool-like member being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, said spool-like member including a hollow cylindrical body portion coaxially mounted on said reduced diameter portion of said support member, a pair of contiguous conveyor side plate members mounted on said spool-like member for pivotal movement relative to each other, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates, the lateral spacing between said first flange and said washer being such as to restrict said pair of pivoted side plate members to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, whereby to minimize ''''wobble'''' between said pivotally connected side plate members.
 2. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said first flange is located laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor of the laterally inner end of said spool-like member, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member.
 3. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said first flange is located substantially at the laterally inner end of said spool-like member.
 4. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said support member is a chain pin.
 5. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which said support member is a thru rod.
 6. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 1 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spool-like member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said recess.
 7. A grate conveyor as defined in claim 6 in which said first flange has an arcuate extent of less than 360*, said recess being shaped to substantially conform to the shape of said first flange whereby said first flange is received in keyed relation to said recess.
 8. A stabilized side plate construction for a grate conveyor comprising a pair of pivotally connected side plates, a support member corresponding to said pair of Pivotally connected side plates, said support member including a larger diameter portion adapted to pivotally support a pair of contiguous chain links, said support member including a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to said conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support member including a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter portion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like member including a first flange, the laterally inner end of said spool-like member being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member, whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, said spool-like member including a hollow cylindrical body portion coaxially mounted on said reduced diameter portion of said support member, said pair of side plates being mounted on said spool-like member for pivotal movement relative to each other, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates, the lateral spacing between said first flange and said washer being such as to restrict said pair of pivoted side plates to a dimensionally predetermined limited relative lateral movement therebetween, whereby to minimize ''''wobble'''' between said pivotally connected side plates.
 9. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said first flange is located laterally outwardly relative to said conveyor of the laterally inner end of said spool-like member, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member.
 10. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said first flange is located substantially at the laterally inner end of said spool-like member.
 11. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said support member is a chain pin.
 12. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which said support member is a thru rod.
 13. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 8 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spool-like member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said recess.
 14. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 13 in which said first flange has an arcuate extent less than 360*, said recess being shaped to substantially conform to the shape of said first flange whereby said first flange is received in keyed relation to said recess.
 15. A stabilized side plate construction as defined in claim 9 in which said cylindrical shoulder of said spool-like member is adapted to pivotally support a cover member for a chain link of the type in which the cover member is separate from the chain link proper and in which said cover member laterally overhangs the chain link proper to overlie said cylindrical shoulder, and in which said cover member includes means carried by the overhanging portion of said cover member pivotally connecting said cover member to said cylindrical shoulder.
 16. In a grate conveyor, a chain extending lengthwise of said conveyor contiguous a lateral edge of the conveyor, said chain being of a type formed of two-piece chain links each including a chain link proper and a separate cover member in covering and laterally overhanging relation to said chain link proper, each pair of contiguous chain Links proper being pivotally connected together, a support member corresponding to each pair of pivotally connected chain links proper, said support member being movable with said conveyor and supporting a given pair of pivotally connected chain links proper at the pivotal connection of the respective chain links proper, said support member including a larger diameter portion on which said chin links proper are pivotally supported and a reduced diameter portion extending laterally outwardly relative to the conveyor from said larger diameter portion, said support member including a radial shoulder defined by the junction of said larger diameter portion and said reduced diameter portion, a spool-like member mounted on said reduced diameter portion, said spool-like member including a first flange, said spool-like member including a cylindrical shoulder lying laterally inwardly of said first flange, the laterally inner end of said cylindrical shoulder being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said radial shoulder of said support member whereby to define a fixed reference location for said first flange relative to said support member, a washer mounted on a laterally outer part of said reduced diameter portion of said support member at a fixed distance from said first flange, whereby to define in effect an opposite flange of said spool-like member, a pair of contiguous side plate members mounted on said spool-like member between said first flange and said washer for pivotal movement of said plate members relative to each other, said first flange and said washer constituting abutments which limit lateral movement of said side plates in opposite lateral directions, the lateral spacing between said first flange and said washer being such as to restrict said pair of pivoted side plates to a dimensionally predetermined limited lateral movement therebetween, whereby to minimize ''''wobble'''' between said pivotally connected side plates, and mounting means carried by a portion of a chain link cover member which is in laterally overhanging relation to a corresponding chain link proper, said mounting means being mounted on said cylindrical shoulder of said spool-like member, whereby to pivotally mount said chain link cover member on said cylindrical shoulder of said spool-like member.
 17. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which said support member is a chain pin.
 18. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which said support member is a thru rod.
 19. The grate conveyor defined in claim 16 in which one of said side plate members mounted on said spool-like member faces inwardly toward the grate conveyor, said one of said side plate members being provided with a recess to receive said first flange of said spool-like member, said first flange being positioned in said recess. 